I have of course written to Mr Jennings in an effort to give this issue as much coverage as possible. The following was his reply:So what is to be done?The only thing these FIFA guys hate more than losing their bundles of World Cup tickets is embarrassment.
Here’s a few ideas.# Create funny and wicked banners to unveil at every international and Joe Public game – and every other game in the twin islands. You don’t need my advice on what to write! Wave them in front of the cameras, the politicians and the VIPs. Run these rogues out of football.
Then get serious:# Write firm but polite letters of protest to all news media that you think don’t reflect what you know the fans think – and what is right and fair. Not all reporters seem as determined to confront that truth as Lasana is.
# Listen to the older and wiser heads among your ranks and then petition the government and the prosecuting authorities (I guess the DPP) to take action and investigate allegations of criminality. I believe that there is already a lot of information in government hands about where a lot of the money from the 2001 Under-17 tournament went. That was taxpayers’ money – your money. Where is the accountability? This is a theme to hammer away at until the Government or the DPP do something.
What other issues? Petition the DPP to investigate how much money came in from sponsors, tickets receipts, the German WC organisers and elsewhere for this year’s World Cup – and where has it gone? What have the Warner family paid themselves? Where is the legal basis for the with-holding money for 2010?
I am sure you can think of many other money issues over the years. Talk them through – among your ranks you must have some qualified accountants, lawyers, all kinds of professional people to help draft this. Keep up the pressure on the authorities to investigate.
Now . . . get even more serious:There’s something you guys can help me with – which in turn will help you. Start passing the word around – what is the relationship between the Warner family and the two ladies who were registered as owners of Warner’s Simpaul travel company? They are Ms Princess Rose Campbell and Ms Margaret Fletcher and they give the address of 177 Kitchener Avenue, Barataria.
It would seem obvious they are stooges. Warner had to be seen to relinquish control of the company by early March this year – otherwise he risked a real punishment from FIFA for Simpaul’s ticket rackets.
Whilst in Trinidad in May, filming for the BBC, I called at that house and a lady who appeared to be Ms Fletcher fled inside, refusing to answer questions. They then drew the curtains.I suspect that these two ladies are innocents who have got themselves into something bigger than they expected. They should not be viewed as bad people. But I can see no evidence that they have any knowledge or experience how to operate a travel company. Of course that is actually done by Daryan Warner.
But what is their connection to Warner? Is there a kinship relationship? Any other kind? Church, social, school, college? What? How do they know the Warner family. Do what reporters and cops do – go sleuthing, knock on doors.
Why have they allowed themselves to be used in this way? How on earth did they raise the money to buy the business? Seems highly unlikely. Surely there are some Warrior fans in Kitchener Avenue and the surrounding streets who can make polite inquiries in the neighbourhood and the social circles in which these ladies move.
If these ladies can be persuaded in a fair and decent manner to tell the truth – which almost certainly is that they lent their names and in no way manage the company – then Warner is in big trouble at FIFA. So get on the street – every fan who cares – and start asking questions. File the answers to the website, Lasana and to me. Get us the information – we’ll do the writing and it will go global.
Lastly . . .
And do tell the fans on the Soca Warriors forum site thanks for their kind comments. A million Warrior fans? A million amateur investigative journalists. Get over to Barataria and PROVE you really want to clean up the T&TFF.That’s enough for now. And do look at my website from time to time. There will be updates.
All the best,
Andrew
www.transparencyinsport.org
